http://www.britishblades.com/forums/ Backpacks, rucksacks, stoves, tarps and bivvibags for the fleet of foot. en Tue, 21 May 2013 23:00:51 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.britishblades.com/forums/images/styles/HighlightOrange/misc/rss.png http://www.britishblades.com/forums/ http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167150-Recommendations-for-new-jacket&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 18:14:06 GMT Hi all, As summer is here, me and my other half have decided to start doing more hill walking. Last year was pretty grim when out and about because of my inadiquate clothing. I spent most of the year wearing my crag hoppers soft shell which either got me soaked from the rain or soaked from... Hi all,

As summer is here, me and my other half have decided to start doing more hill walking. Last year was pretty grim when out and about because of my inadiquate clothing. I spent most of the year wearing my crag hoppers soft shell which either got me soaked from the rain or soaked from sweat. I don't want to be caught out this year so I've decided to invest in a new jacket. I'm pretty awkward as I get hot very easy, for example when I took short walks in the snow on my lunch break at work, I could manage to break a sweat in just my boots, trousers and long sleeve shirt. Aside from cutting down my pace, I think proper clothing is the only way to go.

I'm not really that knowledgable on the type of 'jackets' but here are a few that I liked the look of

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/montane-...jacket-p266406

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/montane-...jacket-p202589

Any recommendations would be apprieciated :D

Cheers ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... RamblerUK http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?167150-Recommendations-for-new-jacket http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166823-Windcatcher-Inflatable-Mat&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 14:43:35 GMT I dare you not to watch the early part of the demo video and go 'Wow, why has no one else done that before'!

I wonder how it long it will be before Thermarest buys that idea out.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...p?ref=category ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... metalbudgie http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166823-Windcatcher-Inflatable-Mat http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166792-Black-leaf-com-for-gear-and-clothes&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 06:45:45 GMT Recently found this site blackleaf.com through trustpilot. Loads of clothes at great prices north face etc . Boots sleeping bags etc all at discounted price and a great store . Just a heads up for anyone looking for a place to shop online. Eg northface short conversion trousers that are... Recently found this site blackleaf.com through trustpilot.
Loads of clothes at great prices north face etc .
Boots sleeping bags etc all at discounted price and a great store .
Just a heads up for anyone looking for a place to shop online.
Eg northface short conversion trousers that are trousers or shorts.
Should be £65 £55 really impressed with the site .

Note : no affiliation to site
http://www.blackleaf.com/The-North-F...e/blp47894.htm ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... Cultcollector http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166792-Black-leaf-com-for-gear-and-clothes http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166754-Picking-a-large-rucksack&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 13:07:16 GMT Hi All, I need to get myself a new large rucksack, im looking at somewhere between 75l - 100l and not looking to break the bank, I need it to be fairly rugged and simple. At the moment im considering the Berghaus vulcan2 and the Karrimor sabre 60-100 sf., Has anyone got any feed back or other... Hi All, I need to get myself a new large rucksack, im looking at somewhere between 75l - 100l and not looking to break the bank, I need it to be fairly rugged and simple. At the moment im considering the Berghaus vulcan2 and the Karrimor sabre 60-100 sf., Has anyone got any feed back or other suggestions.

Cheers Mike ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... mrmcc http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166754-Picking-a-large-rucksack http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166113-Alpacka-Rafts&goto=newpost Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:28:44 GMT I am looking at getting a couple of the packrafts from Alpacka Rafts. Anyone have any experience? https://www.alpackaraft.com/ I am looking at getting a couple of the packrafts from Alpacka Rafts. Anyone have any experience?

https://www.alpackaraft.com/ ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... Yosarian http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166113-Alpacka-Rafts http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166088-small-daypack-Recommendations&goto=newpost Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:42:17 GMT anyone have any suggestions for a small day pack something roughtly 20lt or so in size with an external water bottle pouch any maybe some admin in subdued colours i plan to walk,run and ride with it on so stablisation would be a bonus too... anyone have any suggestions for a small day pack

something roughtly 20lt or so in size with an external water bottle pouch any maybe some admin

in subdued colours

i plan to walk,run and ride with it on so stablisation would be a bonus too... ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... Corso http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166088-small-daypack-Recommendations http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166045-Not-a-Cairngorm-or-a-Jetboil-in-sight&goto=newpost Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:19:13 GMT ... for once!

For a change of setting this week, I headed down to the pass of Drumochter to bimble round the munroes to the West of the A9, Gael Charn, A'Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor.

The forecast was a bit iffy… “Expect heavy snow showers above 600m, with 20-25mph wind through the morning, with risk of thunder, giving way to 50mph winds and persistent snow at all levels in the afternoon. Temperatures -1C at 900m.”

Still, I could take it one hill at a time without too much commitment, and there were few objective hazards on the route, just the opportunity for lots of ‘exercise’. I 'd missed last week due to a heavy cold so was itching to get out... anywhere. And besides, who needs an excuse?

Arriving at Balsporran Cottages at ~9:45 due to a road closure on my way over from Fyvie forcing a bit of a detour, I was booted up and on the the Gael Charn track by 10:00. The luxury of late April being a long day ahead if I needed it. There was even some blue sky, though I was surprised by the lack of snow cover below the very tops.

Turned out to be even milder than forecast, and the pull up onto Gael Charn was wet. Sopping wet heather gave way to slushy wet heather, and the clouds rolled in to remove any views. Then the snow started. And the wind, though only about 20mph or so. I planned to get to the top of Gael Charn at least, for the exercise if nothing else.

Higher up, once clear of the heather, big gaps in the rollling cloud cover would appear and give framed views of the surrounding hills, notably of A’Mharconaich- my next top if I continued beyond this one.

The slope eased off as it rose, and dried out too, and walking was easy, if disappointingly frost free. Freezing level obviously above 917m today.

At 12:00 the top took me by surprise, by its character as much as anything. In the middle of a huge level plain of rocky rubble there was a small pile of rubble.
Much more interesting were the glimpses I’d been getting of the next hill, A’Mharconaich, and the deep U of the An Lairig to the west.


An Lairig. Makes a change from the Lairig Ghru.

The highlight had to be the view West that appeared after I’d decided to wander down to the bealach to see if I was going to go up hill number 2. Just as I came off the summit of Gael Charn, the views across and down Loch Ettrick opened up. That lifted my soggy spirits a great deal, so A’Mharconaich was on.


Looking back at Gael Charn from the Bealach.

The cloud continued to lift so I could see where I was going, and I opted for a snowy runnel rather than a heathery plod. From the view on the way down from Gael Charn I'd picked out a snowy route that looked like it would get all the way on to the A’Mharconaich ridge. Given that this was a north facing slope and the snow looked like it was lying in stream runnels, I figured the snow would be relatively stable and I had the option of staying near the edges if I felt any doubt.


I had crampons and an axe with me, in addition to the pair of poles that had propelled me thus far. Come to think of it, I had three poles, having just found one at the bealach –which explains the impression of a radio tower I’m doing in the summit photo below...
Anyhoo, the snow was firm but not icy, and a quick profile showed it was consistently stiff down to the heather. It would take a footprint without need of crampons, but without sinking through, so I set off up the runnel that ran for about 600m, rising the full 200m or so to the top. The slope was fairly gentle, but as a concession to common sense I stowed the poles and carried my axe in the ready position just in case.
On the way up, the clag came and went in 10 minute cycles and in 30 minutes I was on the broad ridge that looked a bit like Gael Charn summit all over again. This would be fantastic skiing if there was another six inches of cover to hide the rocks, but today it isn’t even really frozen. No sign of any horses though.

Off East for a bit to find the summit, and then, because it’s 13:10 and since it looks sooooo level, I opt for the third hill of the day, Bein Udlamain. To be honest at this stage that’s because it looks like it’s no distance away and it doesn’t look like any big drop or reascent is required.

Natty titfer, no? I was trying it out for snow -brim was a big help, and twin fore and aft chinstraps held it surprisingly securely. Luckily I didn't meet any fashion police...
A'Mharconaich Summit Cairn.


The wind is starting to rise a bit too. And the clouds are darkening. And the snow is being flung a bit harder when it comes. Still, bailing out down the NE nose of A’Mharconaich, or even further on, en route to Udlamain by dropping down on the north side shouldn’t present any great difficulty, and the ridge is flat enough to make retracing my steps straightforward.

That’s a fair length of ridge! (I must be getting too used to looking at my 1:25000 Cairngorm map and I’m using 1:50000 today) .And there’s quite a dip down before the ascent of Udlamain, but I’m quite happy being blown along and the slopes are all fairly gentle. On the way across visibility went from a few yards, to occasional glimpses of Schiehallion. At one point I had a cracking view of Ben Alder and in the 5 seconds to get my camera out everything disappeared as I watched. The windspeed was noticeably rising.

Typical view today, along the A'Mharconaich ridge toward Beinn Udlamain


On a clear day, you can see Schiehallion from here (zoom). 70% of the time today I'm happy when I can see the ground.


The way ahead, Beinn Udlamain on the right, before the clouds close in again

Udlamain has a false summit –I found it – a smallish cairn in a landscape I’m getting used to by now. And the ground seems to fall away from it in all directions. Had there been a view I would have had a clue this wasn’t the summit, but I didn’t so I hadn’t.

Eitherhoo, from the summit (real or imaginary) I planned to walk off south, so did so, and found a line of fencing going my way. Confirmation, or so I thought, that I was in the right place. Until the fencing abruptly swung west and the ground started to rise (which I’ve found it doesn’t usually do after reaching a real summit). Oh well, maybe there is a better cairn to be found after all… and there was. I was at the top of "the Gloomy Hill" at 14:45. The freezing level is evidently above 1011m today.


Ghosts of views loomed occasionally, intent on letting me know what I was missing…




Now to head south in anger. Over painfully rocky ground, and another south-running fence (shamefully apologetic about its earlier imposter, this one ran all the way down to the bealach at the head of Coire Dhomhain).

Intermittent views of the wild peaty hinterland to the south opened up, bounded to the south by the pyramid of Stob an Aonich Mhoir, to the west by blue of Loch Ettrick and the high battlements of the Ben Alder range, and to the east by the flanks of Sgairneach Mhor, the final hill of the day and its south ridge to Mam Ban.



Sgreanach Mhor from Beinn Udlamain's South Ridge ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... Basemetal http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166045-Not-a-Cairngorm-or-a-Jetboil-in-sight http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166015-Compact-Sleeping-Bag-Recommendations&goto=newpost Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:43:46 GMT Hope to pick some brains for a compact sleeping bag recommendation. I have a good cold weather bag and want something suitable for occasional summer use. (if we get any). :D
Something "roughly" conforming the specs listed below would be ideal.

Packed size 30cm long x 15cm diameter
Weight 1kg - 1.25Kg
Usable to 5 deg C
Wide fitting :)
£50 (ish) ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... ANDYLASER http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?166015-Compact-Sleeping-Bag-Recommendations http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?165785-Don-t-Fancy-This!!!!&goto=newpost Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:03:30 GMT Just saw this - Don't think it's breathable!!!! :ralmao:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Human-Rema...item27d1ee1bc2 ]]> Backpacking and Ultralight... Tom-Brown http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?165785-Don-t-Fancy-This!!!!